HNN 318: The Older Person and Supportive Care

HNN 318: The Older Person and Supportive Care
Assessment Task 2 2020; Weighting 60%
Word count: 2000 words

Purpose of assessment task
The purpose of this assessment task is to critically discuss the role and professional
qualities of the registered nurse in the provision of evidence-based end of life care
(EOLC) for the older person.

Due date: Monday 1st June, 2020
Time: 11.59pm, prior to 4pm is recommended in case of technical issues
Location: Assignment dropbox on HNN318 CloudDeakin unit site
Format: PDF*
*PDF conversion software is available here on Deakin Software Catalogue
• Please check the document before submitting to the dropbox to ensure the
formatting has not changed.
• You are responsible for ensuring that the correct version of your assessment
task is uploaded properly into the correct assessment dropbox.
Topic background:
In a survey of older people, findings indicated that they felt confident with end of life care
(EOLC) when they were supported:
• To be as free from pain as possible
• To have their family and significant others with them,
• In the process of dying in line with their social, cultural, religious and spiritual
preferences
(Australian Government Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission 2019)
Instructions for this assessment task:
This assessment task occurs in two parts: Assessment task Part 1 (short answer) AND
assessment task Part 2 (Essay).
Instructions for this assessment task:
Case Study Scenario
It is the AM shift in an acute rural hospital and you are allocated to care for Jo an
85-year-old man diagnosed with end stage Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
Jo retired as a dairy farmer 5 years ago and consequently moved into the local
township. He was widowed two years ago.
Jo has one son, David (67) who lives 500km away but they speak weekly on the
phone.
Jo is eating minimal amounts of food and only drinks a few sips of water each shift.
He spends most of the time sleeping and needs assistance with all of his activities of

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daily living (ADLs). When he is asked a question, he sometimes opens his eyes but
does not speak.
Part 1: Short answer questions (500 words):
a) Provide and discuss credible rationale(s) for the appropriate
circumstances to cease oral hydration and nutrition when delivering
EOLC for Jo.
b) Explain how the registered nurse would effectively communicate
information about ceasing oral hydration and nutrition as part of EOLC to
his family and/or significant others.
Part 2: Essay (1500 words): Critically discuss the registered nurse’s role and
required professional qualities for effective management of the older person’s
EOLC. Your critical discussion should explain how the registered nurse will enact
their role to provide quality and safe EOLC.
Submission information
Presentation
• An introduction or conclusion is not required for Part 1: Short Answer
Questions.
• Standard essay format is required for Part 2: Essay.
• Headings are required in Part 1: Short Answer Questions but they must not be
used in Part 2 Essay.
• Front page to include student name and number, assignment title and word
count for each part (Part 1 and Part 2).
• It is acceptable to discuss either Jo and/or his family in your written answers, or
answers may be written in the third person using general terms such as “the
older person” and “family or significant others”.
• Do not include a table of contents.
• Adhere to word limit requirements within 10%. The word count does not
include headings, references page, in-text citations, and direct quotations (if
used).
• Writing must adhere to the conventions of written English, with appropriate
attention to sentence and paragraph structure, spelling and grammar.
• A reference list should be provided on a separate page headed ‘References’ at
the end of the assignment.
Font:
12-point type size.
Times or Times New Roman.
Spacing:
Double-line spacing (Do not insert extra lines between paragraphs or the
references list entries.)
Page numbers
Page numbers must be provided on all pages except front page. Place page
number in the top right hand corner

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Margins
2.54 cm at the top, bottom, left-hand, and right-hand sides of the page.
Paragraph indents
Indent the first line of each paragraph (using the tab key or paragraph tool).
Exceptions: abstract, block quotations, titles and headings, table titles and notes
(consult with APA 6 style manual for specific detail).
Justification of text: All text needs to be aligned to the left, not justified.